Improvement in service-pipe boxes



W. RIOKETTS. Service-Pipe Box.

No. 218,136. Patented Aug. 5,1879.

Fig.1. Figuz.

D u I u A it 12% Fig.3. Fig.4.

f test lnveni 0r.

' Jam- 65 4 c d/W 2% UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIGE.

WILLIAM RIOKETTS, OF CINCINNATI, OHIO.

IMPROVEMENT IN SERVICE-PIPE BOXES.

Specification formiiig part of Letters Patent No. 218,136, dated August5, 1879; application filed June 17, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLIAM RIcKETTs, of Cincinnati, in the county ofHamilton and State of Ohio, have invented certain new and usefulImprovements in Stop-Boxes for Service-Pipes, of which the following isa specification.

In the ordinary construction of stop-boxes for street, yard, or houseuse on Water-service pipes, the cock is placed at the bottom of an irontube or box, which box is usually long enough to reach below thefrost-line in the ground. The top of the box is furnished with a cover,which is usually hinged, and can be opened when necessary. The key ofthe cock is squared for a long socket-wrench; and when the cock is to beturned the cover of the box is lifted, the wrench inserted into the box,and fitted on the squared end of the key of the cock and rotated asdesired.

Several objections are offered to this arrangement: First, the cock isgenerally located from three to four feet below the surface of theground, and considerable time and patience are necessary to connect thewrench and key before the cock can be turned second, the caps of thecommon stop-boxes are very liable to be removed and lost, and the boxfilled with dirt and rubbish from the street, and in some instancesseveral hours time will be required to remove the dirt from the boxbefore the wrench can be used to turn the cock; third, a special wrenchfitting the squared end of the key is necessary to turn the cock, andshould this be lost or misplaced the cock cannot be turned at all.

My invention has for its object the construction of a stop-box forstreet and house service-pipe that will be free from the objectionsnoted above.

This I accomplish in the following manner: The box and service-cock areconstructed as heretofore; but instead of the usual frame and hinged capat the top of the box, I make the cap cylindrical, with a barrelprojecting into and loosely fitting the cylindrical box. The cover orcap is provided with a rim or flange, resting on the top of the box, andfurnished with parallel projecting checks on the upper surface, betweenwhich the wrench or rod to turn the cock is inserted, and the cover revolved through a quadrant of a circle.

The construction of the cap with parallel checks, or with a recess orsocket for a plugwrench, dispenses with a special wrench, as any smallrod of iron or a fire-poker can be used to rotate the cap. Into the sideof the barrel of the cap a slot is cut, into which pro jects a stop-pinscrewed through the box to limit the motion of the cap. The lower end ofthe cap is furnished with a square socket to receive the end of a rod ofsquare iron, and a similarlysquared coupling at the lower end of the rodconnects the stem and the key of cock.

It will thus be seen that the key of the cock and the revolving cap aresecurely connected by the stem and the squared coupling, and that therotation of the cap is accompanied by a corresponding rotation of thecook. The stop-pin in the side to limit the rotation of the cap alsoprevents the removal and loss of the cap by accident or intent, as thestop-pin can only be reached by removing the earth from around the box.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is an elevation of my improvedstop-box for service-pipes with a portion of the box cut away, showingthe internal arrangement of cap, stem, coupling, and cock. Fig. 2 is asectional elevation. Fig. 3 is a plan of the revolving cap, showing arecess or depression in the upper surface for a plug-wrench; and Fig. 4is a plan of the under side of the rotating cap.

Similar letters of reference indicate similar parts.

A is the usual cylindrical stop-box, with a detachable bottom, B. O isthe service-cock, located at the bottom of the box. The key of the cockis squared and fitted to the squared coupling F. D is the revolving cap,with squared socket end d, barrel d, loosely fitting the box A, annularrim or flange d, and quadrantal slot d. a is the stop-pin threaded intothe side of the box, and projecting through the slot 01' in the barrel dof the revolving cap 1). E is the stem, of square iron, fitted to thecoupling F and socket cl.

It is not essential that the stem E, socket d, and couplingF be square,as shown, as any other form of hole in the socket and coupling and anyother cross-section of stem will an swer as well. Round iron may be usedfor the stem E, and the ends squared to fit the holes in socket andcoupling, and round holes in the socket and coupling may be used, andthe round stem secured thereto by cross pins. The upper edge ofthe box Ashould be squared with the axis of the box, and be reasonably smooth topermit of the cosy rotation of the i cup D. The box should be sunk intothe ground until the upper surface of the cup is flush with the surfaceof the ground, and when used for street service, and subject to contactwith the wheels of heavily-loaded wagons, the 1 cap D should be madeheavier than for house or sidewalk use, and should be furnished with therecess or socket for a plug-wrench instead of the parallel projectingcheeks.

I do not wish to limit my invention to stop boxes for water-servicepipes, us it is applicable to gas-service pipes, and for many otherpurposes, which will suggest to the intelligent mechanic.

I do not wish to be confined to the quadrantal slot in the revolving capand the stoppin projecting into the slot as a means of limiting therotation of the cap, as this may be accomplished in other ways withoutdepurtl ing from the principle of my invention; but I prefer theconstruction as shown.

Having described my invention, what I claim is- 1. In stop-boxes forservice-pipes, the revolving cap I), with quadrantal slot 01', incombination with the box A and stop-pin a, for the purpose and asdescribed. 7

2. In stop-boxes for service-pipes, the revolving cap I), with socket d,stem E, and coupling F, in combination with the servicecock 0 and box A,for the purpose and as described.

3. In stop-boxes for service-pipes, the revolving cup I), withquadrantul slot d, stoppin a, stem E, and coupling F, in combinationwith the service-cock C and stop-box A, for the purpose and asdescribed.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand this 13th day of June,1879.

WILLIAM RIO K ETTS.

Witnesses:

JOHN W. HILL, COLLIN FORD, Jr.

